A day after President Donald Trump met with congressional leaders from both sides of the aisle, it is understood that no agreement has been reached regarding the on-going partial government shutdown as the president stuck to his demand for $5bn in border wall funding fiercely opposed by Democrats.
Top Senate Republican Mitch McConnell confirmed the lack of progress, saying: “I don’t think any particular progress was made today, but we talked about all aspects of it and it was a civil discussion.
“We are hopeful that somehow in the coming days or weeks we will be able to reach an agreement,” he told reporters upon his return to Capitol Hill.
Before meeting with lawmakers, Trump said the shutdown would last for “as long as it takes” as he pushes for wall money as part of any legislation to reopen agencies shuttered when their funding lapsed on Dec. 22.
“It could be a long time,” Trump told reporters on Wednesday during a Cabinet meeting, “or it could be quickly.”
Congressional leaders are expected to return to the White House on Friday to resume talks.
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